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Your Mother and Mine 



Through the Maze of 
Pride, Lust, Labor, Color and Creed 



By NELLIE M. FALL 



GRAFTON PUBLISHING CORPORATION 
Los Angeles, California 






Copyright 1922 
^y NELLIE M. FALL 



>CJ.A690061 



NOV -7 1S22 



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To 
Your Mother and Mine 



DIFFICULT task to say anything new 
Of worth of your Mother and mine, 
^^^\ So much has been written ennobhng 
and true. 
All priceless gems, precious each line; 
And everyone knows of the patience so rare. 

The Love tireless, tender and pure. 
The courage unfalt'ring, the kind, watchful care 

That ever dare all to endure. 
When life seems a failure and friends all forget. 

When fierce battles long and hard-fought 
Have won only scars and defeat and regret, — 

Unheralded spoils dearly bought. 
With Faith firm and fearless she guides to the 
goal, — 
The struggling heart's long-cherished shrine. 
Sustained by a Trust that's the Song in the Soul 
Supreme of your Mother and mine. 




OWE'ER much we wander and far we 
may roam, 
Not often will she e'er resign 
Her place at the helm of the good, old 
ship ''Home'' 
When e'en all things seem to combine 
To make a rough voyage; and through trials sore 

Still confident, constant, serene. 
She stays at her post ever willing the more 

On His gentle guidance to lean 
Who e'er rewards waiting with rightful increase 

Of sustenance, shelter and rest. 
And pilots her bark to the Harbor of Peace 

Where Love's patient labors are blest. 
But dark clouds of sense sometimes tend to 
Obscure 
The realm of the Real and fine. 
And blinded thereby we are not always sure 
That One is vour Mother and mine. 




ID splendor and ease in rich raiment 
adorned. 
Exclusive and proud and unkind. 
She lives in dull dreams where the lowly 
are scorned 
Of those vain and selfishly blind, 
Till heartless convention would kill with con- 
tempt 
The gifts solely worthy to live. 
And founts of affection sca^ feebly attempt 

In living streams longer to give. 
But gently descending the pure. Royal Rays 

Displace mortal counterfeit weak 
With beauty of holiness, garments of praise. 
With pride humbly chastened and meek; 
And 'neath the mere semblance of feature unfold 

The face noble, sweet and benign 
Reflecting the Love and the kindness untold 
Replete in your Mother and mine. 




IKE one long ago by the Pharisees 
founds 
Rejected, despised and forlorn. 
Again comes the Magdalene hard and sin- 
bound; 
And prone to malign and to scorn 
As ancient accusers so stainless and pure, 

We also wait ready to stone. 
But Wisdom would all our self-righteousness cure 

With Love's wholesome weapons alone: 
In earth's sordid turmoil of trouble and care 

If only we touch the mere Hem 
Of the Robe without seam, and the healing we 
share 
No man will another condemn. 
But each will discern with eye single and keen 

The Light kindly, pure and divine 
Revealing not wanton spurned, loathsome and 
mean. 
But clearly your Mother and mine. 




HE pathways of Service, the great gift 
of God, 
Throughout countless ages reveal 
The prints of feet bleeding — with rare 
beauty shod — 
Of those wisely zealous to heal; 
To learn in the routine dull, irksome and sad 

To work ever joyfully do. 
And hungry hearts weary with waiting make 
glad 
With real Hope kindled anew; — 
To sift in the seeking the chaff from the wheat. 

The great Purpose rightly to serve. 
Where selfless endeavors alone do not cheat. 

Inclined ne'er to falter nor swerve; — 
For this all would bring grateful homage to her — 

Sincere gentlewoman divine. 
Well knowing that Love will due honor confer 
Worth while on your Mother and mine. 




HE Freedom long sung of a kind, loyal 
race 
Will more strong and truthful theme 
bear 
When methods of Justice found wanting give 
place 
To those honesty helpful and fair; 
When barriers of color no longer dispute 

The rights that are truly God-giv'n, 
And worthy aspirants of splendid repute 

Receive as they nobly have striven; 
When aim for equality merely with man 

Shall mortal no longer inspire. 
But rather for measure with one of God's plan, — 

A mark surely freer and high'r. 
And blessed the Love that impartial has shown 

In model of every design — 
Whatever caste or color — the true type and tone 
Complete in your Mother and mine. 




NSNARED in the meshes of dogma 
and creeds. 
Mankind's dire and deadliest foe. 
Whose leaders and cruel laws ever must 
needs 
But little of comfort bestow. 
She dares to exalt and devoutly revere 

A mortal god, frail and unkind; 
But lost in the maelstrom of mesmeric fear 

The seekers of Truth will e'er find 
Man's heritage real with God's stamp and Seal: 

The Word-cure for all human ill, 
A right understanding our small sects to heal 

And each fearful, trembling heart fill 
With perfect assurance of vict'ry o'er death, — 

That Love's precious promise divine 
Crowns Faith with fulfillment of all that He 
saith 
Of Life for your Mother and mine. 




HE Likeness of Love naught can dim or 
defile. 
With HoHness, Beauty and Grace 
'Twill ever redeem with true Color and 
Style, 
And sensuous model efface. 
Till concept of clay cannot cheat and defraud 

The Good Work so wondrously wrought. 
And noble ideals reflected from God 
Inspire every action and thought; 
Till clean and unfettered by aught from within, 

Or cheap outward mortal display 
Of vanity, servitude, bondage or sin 
That strive over man to hold gway. 
Like Jesus, the Master, in all we shall see 

The One perfect Image Divine, 
Complete, universal, pure, glorified, free, — 
Your Mother Immortal and mine. 



